Drive in rack can be configured to store loads of three, four or more loads deep. Creating extremely dense storage. A drive in racking system that stores four high and five deep, for example, can hold twenty pallets in each bay.
In a drive in racking system, lift tucks drive into the end of the storage bay, place a load in the desired position and then drive back out. The drive in rack uses the same entry and exit point for each bay.
To allow lift truck into the bays, drive in pallet racks are designed without traditional beams placed across bays. Instead, pallets rest along rails that run along the insides of the bays, perpendicular to the isles. With drive in pallet rack systems, fewer isles are required. Thus, increasing storage density by up to seventy-five percent.
In a lane of three pallets deep and four pallets high giving you the storage of twelve pallets. One hundred and ninety-two square foot of product setting on the warehouse floor can be stored in just a sixty square foot floor space using a drive in pallet rack system. This saves you one hundred and thirty-two square foot of floor space.
While drive-thru rack is considered first in first out (FIFO). Drive in pallet racking systems are considered LIFO storage. The last pallet in will be the first pallet out. Conversely, the first pallet stored will be the last pallet picked.
This may have an impact on time sensitive or dated inventory and must carefully be reviewed. Each bay is typically dedicated to a single product. So used drive in racking is best used in warehouses storing large quantities of the same product.
Drive in racking severely limit access to products stored in rear positions. As a result, say experts, this type of storage is best suited for situations of which an entire bay of products would be moved at once. Such as in staging products for shipping.
Features and benefits of drive in racking include: fewer isles, increased storage space, reduces space cost and holds more loads.
The depth of the rack is virtually unlimited. Prevents damage commonly found in bulk stacking.
Popular applications of the drive in pallet racking systems include: high volume SKU storage, freezer cooler storage, food and beverage manufacturing and distribution, storage of super sacks, seasonal items that move quickly in and out of the inventory. Drive in rack is most efficient when storing many pallets with a few items that are not age sensitive. Good for building seasonal stock such as toys.
